Economics of the Introduction of Modern Timber Bridges in Virginia

摘要

In 1990, the Virginia Assembly established a commission to proposerecommendations to enhance the economic development of the southside region of the Commonwealth. The commission's 1991 report, House Document 42, included a recommendation for a timber bridge initiative to replace Virginia's structurally deficient bridges. The commission noted that timber bridges could save highway construction funds and stimulate the forest products industry in southside Virginia. This report addresses some of the economic issues. The long-term performance, and thus the life cycle cost competitiveness, of timber bridges cannot be determined at this time. However, timber bridges are not economically competitive from a cost standpoint. The economic viability of timber bridges is adversely affected by the lack of an industry presence in Virginia. This lack also casts doubt on the ability of the Virginia timber bridge initiative to enhance the economic development in the southside region of the Commonwealth.